Governor's Office for Local DevelopmentGOVERNOR FLETCHER AWARDS $1,000,000 TO CITY OF LEBANON FOR NEIGHBORHOOD RECLAMATION

Press Release Date:

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Contact Information:

Lanny BrannockPublic Information Officer1-800-346-5606

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Ernie Fletcher today awarded a $1,000,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to the City of Lebanon for a neighborhood redevelopment project in the Lincoln Avenue area near downtown.

“Making our downtowns viable and beautiful again is an important part of the economic development in small communities like Lebanon,” said Governor Fletcher. “By removing dilapidated houses and providing affordable housing and home ownership opportunities to low and moderate income families, the entire community benefits.”

The funds will be used to demolish 20 houses to eliminate a concentrated area of dilapidated housing. Of these homes, 11 are currently unoccupied. The project will also enable four home owners located in the area to receive newly constructed replacement housing on vacant lots within the neighborhood.

Several other houses are occupied by renters who will be provided with relocation assistance to ensure they are relocated into standard housing. Construction can be done on the remaining cleared lots.

“This project will turn an area full of dilapidated homes into an area of opportunity,” said Sen. Dan Kelly (R-Springfield).

Once demolition is complete, the city will be able to widen the street entrance to the neighborhood. It will also allow for a lot trade with the city and a local church to offer the church expansion opportunities.

Kentucky's U. S. Congressional leaders’ continued support of the CDBG program has made the funding available nationally as well as within the commonwealth. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development makes these funds available through the Governor’s Office for Local Development.